Mounting system for digital media players

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method that allow users to mount digital media players to screens.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/278,759, filed on Oct. 21, 2011 and titled Mounting System for Digital Media Players, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/416,736, filed on Nov. 23, 2010 and titled Mounting System for Digital Media Players. The disclosures of application Ser. No. 13/278,759 and Application 61/416,736 are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is in the technical field of mounting systems. More specifically, the present invention is in the technical field of mounting systems for digital media players.

BACKGROUND

Users often place digital media players near a television. Television owners desire a convenient means to mount digital media players.

SUMMARY

We have discovered an apparatus and a method that allow users to mount digital media players.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media player.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a digital media player inside a tray embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates round vents, vertical vents, and horizontal vents.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a circular hook embodiment, which is configured to attach to round vents.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a vertical hook embodiment, which is configured to attach to vertical vents.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a horizontal hook embodiment, which is configured to attach to horizontal vents.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment where a back portion slides into a first opening in the tray.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment with a hook in a first opening.

FIG. 10 illustrates cross section A-A from FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of cross section A-A from FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment with fastening loops securing a tray.

FIG. 13 illustrates hooks attached to a tray as the tray approaches vents.

FIG. 14 also illustrates hooks attached to a tray as the tray approaches vents.

FIG. 15 illustrates a tray embodiment mounted on a screen by using hooks.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method embodiment of the present invention with various optional steps, the order of which may be changed.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method embodiment of the present invention with various optional steps, the order of which may be changed.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method embodiment of the present invention with various optional steps, the order of which may be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings form part of the detailed description below. The drawings show specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced, by way of example or illustration and not by way of limitation. These embodiments are described in enough detail through text and drawing figures to enable those skilled in the art to practice the claimed invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The description below illustrates implementations of the invention and does not limit the invention.

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in this disclosure.

Digital media players include Digital Video Disc (DVD) players, Blu-ray players, and digital media extenders such as Apple TVs. Digital media players often transmit digital signals wirelessly or through a wire such as a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable to a screen that displays an image based on the digital signal. Screens include computer monitors, televisions, and image-producing portions of movie projectors. Televisions include flat-panel displays, flat-screen televisions, and tube televisions.

Owners of digital media players often prefer to mount their digital media player near their screens. For example, a person who owns a flat screen television that is mounted on the wall might want to mount her Apple TV onto her flat screen television or onto the wall behind her flat screen television.

FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media player 1. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention. The digital media player 1 slides into a tray 2. FIG. 3 shows the digital media player 1 inside the tray 2.

In one embodiment, the tray 2 is configured such that a user can connect electrical cables 3 to the digital media player 1 and then slide the digital media player 1 into the tray 2 without having to disconnect the electrical cables 3. For example, the tray 3 in FIG. 2 includes an open portion 4 that enables the user to slide the digital media player 1 with attached electrical cables 3 into the tray 2. In one embodiment, the tray 2 does not have sidewalls 8 nor does the tray 2 have retaining lips 9 in the open portion 4. The open portion 4 is located such that the electrical cables 3 exit the digital media player 1 in the open portion 4.

The digital media player has two large sides 11 and four small sides 12. In one embodiment, the tray has two retaining lips 9 that engage the large side 11 that faces away from the tray base 13. In this embodiment, the two retaining lips 9 are separated by the open portion 4. In another embodiment, the tray 2 includes an open top 14 to allows the digital media player 1 to slide into the tray 2. The open top 14 is located on the opposite side of the tray relative to the open portion 4.

The tray 2 can attach to vents 10 in a screen 15. This mounting method is advantageous because it can be achieved without tools. FIG. 4 shows round vents 10 a, vertical vents 10 b, and horizontal vents 10 c. A round vent 10 a has an approximately round opening. A vertical vent 10 b has an opening that is longer vertically than the opening is horizontally. For example, a vertical vent opening may measure 3 mm vertically and 1 mm horizontally (when the screen is placed in its normal movie-viewing orientation). A horizontal vent 10 c has an opening that is longer horizontally than the opening is vertically. For example, a horizontal vent opening may measure 3 mm horizontally and 1 mm vertically. Screen manufacturers often include vents 10 in the back of the screen 15 to allow heat to escape from inside the screen 15.

In one embodiment, a mounting system includes three types of hooks. The first type of hook is configured for round vents 10 a. The second type of hook is configured for vertical vents 10 b. The third type of hook is configured for horizontal vents 10 c. This embodiment enables the mounting system to be compatible with screens that have round vents 10 a, vertical vents 10 b, and horizontal vents 10 c because the user can select the hook type that is compatible with the user's screen. In other embodiments, the mounting system only contains two hook types or even just contains one hook type.

Hooks 20 attach the tray 2 to the vents 10. In some embodiments, the hooks are part of the tray. For example, the hooks may be formed as part of the molding process that forms the tray. In other embodiments, the hooks are permanently attached to the tray. In other embodiments, the hooks are detachably coupled to the tray such that the hooks may be removed from the tray after the hooks are attached to the tray.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show a circular hook 20 a, which is configured to attach to round vents 10 a. In one embodiment, the circular hook 20 a has more than one protrusion 6 that enters vents 10. The circular hook 20 a has a front portion 30 a with a substantially round cross section. The front portion 30 enters into the round vent 10 a.

The front portion 30 of a hook 20 is configured to enter a vent 10. In some embodiments, the entire hook is the front portion because the entire hook is sized and shaped to enter the screen's vent. In other embodiments, only part of the hook is the front portion because part of the hook is designed to enter the vent while other parts of the hook serve other purposes such as coupling the front portion to the tray 2.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a vertical hook 20 b with a front portion 30 b, which is configured to attach to vertical vents 10 b. FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show a horizontal hook 20 c with a front portion 30 c, which is configured to attach to horizontal vents 10 c.

The front portion 30 has a length 100, a thickness 101, and a width 102. The length 100 is defined as the distance from middle of where the front portion attaches to the rest of the hook to the front portion's most distant point from the middle of where the front portion attaches to the rest of the hook. FIG. 5 a shows an example length 100 a. FIG. 5 a also shows the back profile 105 a and the front profile 107 a. The back profile 105 is the closest profile on the front portion 30 to the back portion 40 of the hook 20. The front profile 107 is the most distant profile on the front portion 30 to the back portion 40 of the hook 20. The front portion's thickness 101 is the average linear distance between the back profile 105 and the front profile 107. The width 102 of the front portion 30 is perpendicular to the thickness 101. For example, FIG. 7 b shows the width 102 c of the horizontal hook 20 c. The width 102 is determined by finding the average width of the front portion 30.

In one embodiment, a hook 20 has a thickness 101 that is at least 50% larger than the hook's width 102. For example, FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a hook 20 b with a thickness 101 b that is greater than the hook's width 102 b. In another embodiment, a hook 20 has a thickness 101 that is at least twice as large as the hook's width 102. In yet another embodiment, a hook 20 has a thickness 101 that is at least three times as large as the hook's width 102. In various embodiments, the hooks have a thickness that is less than 2 mm, 3 mm, or 4 mm.

In one embodiment, a hook 20 has a width 102 that is at least 50% larger than the hook's thickness 101. For example, FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show a hook 20 c with a width 102 c that is greater than the hook's thickness 101 c. In another embodiment, a hook 20 has a width 102 that is at least twice as large as the hook's thickness 101. In yet another embodiment, a hook 20 has a width 102 that is at least three times as large as the hook's thickness 101.

In one embodiment, two circular hooks 20 a are coupled to the tray 2. In another embodiment, at least three circular hooks 20 a are coupled to the tray 2. In yet another embodiment, at least four circular hooks 20 a are coupled to the tray 2. In yet another embodiment, at least four hooks 20 are coupled to the tray 2. In yet another embodiment, at least ten hooks 20 are coupled to the tray 2.

In various embodiments, the hook 20 includes an approach angle 110 that helps the hook 20 hold itself to the vent 10. The approach angle 110 is defined as the angle between the hook's length 100 and the back of the tray 112 as illustrated in FIG. 10. In various embodiments, the approach angle 110 is less than 60 degrees, less than 50 degrees, less than 40 degrees, less than 30 degrees, or less than 20 degrees.

In various embodiments, the distal end of the hook 20 includes a forwardly curved portion 120. The distal end is the end of the hook 20 that is configured to enter the vent 10 before other portions of the hook 20 enter the vent 10. The forwardly curved portion 120 helps the hook 20 enter the vent's opening. FIG. 11 shows that the forwardly curved portion 120 causes the distal end to be positioned farther away from the tray 2 than the distal end would be positioned without the forwardly curved portion 120. The forwardly curved portion 120 curves the front portion 30 away from the tray 2 when the hook 20 is coupled to the tray 2. In various embodiments, the forwardly curved portion 120 curves at least 10 degrees, at least 20 degrees, at least 30 degrees, or at least 40 degrees from the portion of the hook to which the forwardly curved portion 120 is attached.

A hook's extension distance 130 is the distance from the attachment plane defined by where the front portion 30 attaches to the rest of the hook 20 to the front portion's most distant point as shown in FIG. 5 a. For the purpose of measuring the extension distance 130, the attachment plane should be parallel to the back of the tray 112. In various embodiments, the extension distance 130 is less than 8 mm, less than 10 mm, or less than 12 mm.

In various embodiments, the front portion 30 is flexible. A front portion 30 is herein defined as flexible if the distal end can move at least 3 mm to either side for every 10 mm of length without moving any portion of the hook besides the front portion or causing more than 1 mm of permanent deformation when tested at 74 degrees Fahrenheit and held in the side position for one to two seconds. Moving to the side is defined as moving into or out of the page in FIGS. 5 a, 6 a, and 7 a.

In one embodiment, the hooks 20 are metal. In another embodiment, the hooks 20 are a non-electrically conductive material such as plastic or rubber. In one embodiment, the front portion 30 is metal covered with a nonconductive layer such as rubber, plastic, or any other nonconductive substance. The front portion 30 may have a circular cross section. In various embodiments, metal wires or rods protrude from the back of the tray 112 with an approach angle of less than 60 degrees, less than 50 degrees, less than 40 degrees, less than 30 degrees, or less than 20 degrees. FIG. 5 a shows an embodiment wherein the front portion 30 comprises metal covered by a nonconductive layer. In various embodiments, at least two front portions 30 that each comprise at least one metal wire are attached to the tray, at least three front portions 30 that each comprise at least one metal wire are attached to the tray, at least four front portions 30 that each comprise at least one metal wire are attached to the tray, or at least five front portions 30 that each comprise at least one metal wire are attached to the tray.

The hooks 20 have a back portion 40, which is configured to attach to the tray 2. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment where the back portion 40 slides into a first opening 50 in the tray 2. In various embodiments, the first opening 50 is at least 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, or 5 mm wider than the back portion 40 that slides into the first opening 50 to enable the hook to slide back and forth in the first opening such that the hook 20 is able to move to align itself with the vent 10. FIG. 10 shows cross section A-A from FIG. 9 of the hook 20 in the first opening 50. FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of cross section A-A from FIG. 9 of the hook 20 in the first opening 50.

In one embodiment, the following method is used to attach the tray 2 to the screen 15. The user determines which style of hook 20 is compatible with the vents 10 on her screen 15. The user attaches the hooks 20 to the tray 2. The user attaches the hooks 20 to the vents 10. The user attaches the digital media player 1 to the tray 2. The above steps can be performed in orders different from the order listed above. For example, the user can attach the hooks 20 to the vents 10 before attaching the hooks 20 to the tray 2. In another method, the user attaches the tray 2 to the vents 10 by using hooks 20.

FIGS. 16-18 illustrate various method embodiments of the present invention. The steps in these methods are optional and may be performed in any order. The steps of the various methods may be combined with each other.

In one embodiment, the tray includes additional openings 55 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 11. In one embodiment, the following method is used to mount the tray 2: The user ties the tray 2 to the screen mount 60 using a fastening loop 65.

Fastening loops 65 include cable ties, zip ties, ropes, strings, and bands such as Velcro bands. Screen mounts 60 attach screens 15 to walls such as the vertical walls that form the outer perimeter of rooms in a building such as a home or office. Screen mounts 60 often include vertical bars 62 and horizontal bars. In one embodiment, the user ties the tray 2 to the vertical bar 62. In another embodiment, the user ties the tray 2 to the horizontal bar. The user ties the tray 2 to the bar 62 by placing a fastening loop 65 around the bar 62 and through the opening 50, 55. FIG. 12 shows fastening loops 65 securing the tray 2 to the vertical bar 62 by going around the vertical bar 62 and through the additional openings 55.

In another embodiment, the tray 2 also includes screw holes 70 as shown in FIG. 9. In another mounting method, the user places a screw through the screw hole 70, presses the tray 2 against a wall, and then rotates the screw such that the screw advances into the wall to secure the tray 2 to the wall. In another embodiment, the user places a nail through the screw hole 70, presses the tray 2 against a wall, and then pushes the nail's head such that the nail advances into the wall to secure the tray 2 to the wall.

In another embodiment, the tray 2 includes first openings 50, additional openings 55, and screw holes 70 such that the user can mount the tray 2 by attaching the tray 2 to the vents 10 by using hooks 20, can mount the tray 2 by attaching the tray 2 to the bars 62 by using fastening loops 65, or can mount the tray 2 by attaching the tray 2 to the wall by using screws or nails. In a related embodiment, a package in which the tray 2 is sold to customers includes hooks 20, fastening loops 65, and nails. In a related embodiment, the package in which the tray is sold to customers includes hooks 20, fastening loops 65, and screws. Thus, the package is a universal mounting system because it provides means for an extremely wide range of customers to mount their digital media players.

In one embodiment, the hooks 20 attach to the tray 2 via a snap fit. A snap fit is a self-locking joint in which one part flexes until it slips past a second part. Once the part that flexes slips past the second part, the part that flexes returns to substantially its initial shape, which prevents the two parts from inadvertently separating. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment where a flexing part 75 has moved past a second part 80. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the second part 80 forms the outer perimeter of the first opening 50. The snap fit is advantageous because it prevents the hook 20 from inadvertently falling off the tray 2.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show hooks 20 attached to the tray 2 as the tray 2 approaches the vents 10. FIG. 15 shows the tray 2 mounted on the screen 15 by using the hooks 20.

Many other tray geometries are possible. For example, the tray may completely or partially enclose the digital media player. In an embodiment, the tray encloses all sides of the digital media player. In an embodiment, the retaining lips 9 shown in FIG. 2 extend towards each other such that they touch each other and/or join together to enable the tray to engage a larger portion of the large side 11 that faces away from the tray base 13. In one embodiment, the tray includes side walls 8 that convert open portion 4 and/or open top 14 into at least partially closed portions. Various tray embodiments include walls that engage or cover at least a portion of any combination of the digital media player's large sides 11 and small sides 12. In another embodiment, the tray 2 includes at least three screw holes 70.

The tray 2 can be molded from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic with a hardness of 55 shore D, 65 shore D, 75 shore D, 85 shore D, or 95 shore D. The hooks 20 can be molded from the same ABS plastic materials that can be used for the tray. The hooks 20 can also be molded from polyurethane with a hardness of 70 shore A, 80 shore A, 90 shore A, or 95 shore A. The hooks 20 can also be molded from silicone rubber with a hardness of 85 shore A or 95 shore A. The screws can be a metal such as stainless steel and can be fabricated through standard screw machining processes.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above embodiments and aspects thereof may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use the claimed invention, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, permutations, combinations, equivalent means, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. A mounting system for mounting a digital media player, comprising: a television comprising a back side; a tray coupled to the back side; and a digital media player coupled to the tray.
 2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein at least two hooks couple the tray to the back side.
 3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the mounting system comprises a first hook, which comprises a first thickness and a first width, and a second hook, which comprises a second thickness and a second width, wherein the first thickness is at least 50% larger than the first width and the second width that is at least 50% larger than the second thickness.
 4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the mounting system comprises a third hook, which comprises a front portion with a substantially round cross section.
 5. A mounting system for mounting a digital media player, comprising: a tray configured to hold a digital media player; and at least two hooks configured to couple to the tray.
 6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the mounting system comprises a first hook, which comprises a first thickness and a first width, and a second hook, which comprises a second thickness and a second width, wherein the first thickness is at least 50% larger than the first width and the second width that is at least 50% larger than the second thickness.
 7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the first thickness is at least twice as large as the first width and the second width that is at least twice as large the second thickness.
 8. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the mounting system comprises a third hook, which comprises a front portion with a substantially round cross section.
 9. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein at least one hook of the at least two hooks comprises an approach angle of less than 50 degrees.
 10. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one hook comprises a distal end that has a forwardly curved portion.
 11. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein the forwardly curved portion curves at least 20 degrees.
 12. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the approach angle is less than 40 degrees.
 13. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the approach angle is less than 30 degrees.
 14. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one hook comprises an extension distance of less than 10 mm.
 15. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one hook comprises a front portion that is metal covered with a nonconductive layer.
 16. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the tray comprises a first opening and each hook comprises a back portion configured to couple to the first opening, wherein the first opening is at least 2 mm wider than the back portion.
 17. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the hooks are flexible.
 18. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the hooks comprises more than one front portion protrusion. 